Film splicer



22, 1941- A.'E. GAVIN 2,250,194

' FILM SPLICER Filed June 14, 1938 I'IIIIII Patented July 22, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILM SPLICER Arthur E. Gavin, Huntington Park, Calif.

Application June 14, 1938, Serial No. 213,609

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an inexpensive form of device whereby continuous motion picture film may be spliced, i. e., jointed or cemented together in desired relation for use as a continuous strip film in a projector or the like. The device of this invention is particularly designed for use with 8 and 16 millimeter film, these figures denoting the width of film used by amateurs and distinguishing from the standard commercial film known as 35 millimeter film.

Although splicing devices of various forms have been previously used by the motion picture producers, these devices are relatively expensive and unsuited for use by amateurs. The present invention is particularly directed to a simple, inexpensive form of apparatus which may be readily used by the laymen and which is capable of successfully handling either the 8 or the 16 millimeter film.

An object of this invention, therefore, is to disclose and provide a splicer for continuous strip film, the splicer being characterized by simplicity of parts and operation.

Another object is to provide a film splicing device which is capable of being used on either 8 or 16 millimeter film even though the perforations in such film are differently spaced.

A further object is to provide a film splicing device provided with means whereby the end portions of film strips being spliced together may be suitably trimmed, held in position and cemented together.

These and other objects, advantages, adaptations, characteristics and uses of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention, For purposes of illustration, reference will be had to the appended drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of an illustrative form of device.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken along the plane IIIIII of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a scraping tool carried by the device.

Fig. 5 diagrammatically represents in section a splice formed in the film.

In the form of device shown in the drawing the body portion of the device comprises a table I provided with downwardly extending side portions 2, 3, etc., these side portions being preferably unitary with the table I. The table portion and the downwardly extending sides may be pressed out of metal. The corners may carry small rubber feet 5 and 6. A slot 1 extends transversely over the table I. A hinge pin 8 mounted in supports-9 and I0 is carried near one longitudial edge of the table, the hinge pin being adapted to extend over and above the slot I. The supporting members 9 and I0 may be in the form of angle members extending through slots in the table I, the lower portions of the angles being Welded or riveted to the under side of the table I. An off-set lever cutter bar I2 is pivotally connected to the pin 8, the free end of the cutter bar I2 being provided with a suitable operating handle or tip I3. Preferably the cutter bar is virtually as wide as the transverse slot I so that it can be slidably moved through the slot I without excessive play. The hinge pin 8 also carries a pair of presser arms, such as for example, the presser arms I4 and I5. The free ends of the presser arms Id and I5 may be provided with apertures or slots, such as the slot I6, adapted to engage spring latch means carried by the table portion. A unitary U-shaped spring latch is indicated at IT, theclosed end or" the U being attached to the side of the table portion whereas the free ends are adapted to engage the slots or apertures in the free ends of the presser members I4 and I5.

In Fig. 1 the presser member I5 is shown in raised position whereas in Fig. 3 such presser member is shown in engagement with the spring latch II.

Attention is called to the fact that the two presser members I4 and I5 are adjacent and one of said presser members, in this instance the member I5, is adapted to cover the transverse slot I and to overlie the portions of the table I adjoining the slot 1. For this reason the member I5 has a bifurcated end portion, the bifurcations I8 and I9 forming a hinge around the pin 8, the end of the cutter bar I2 being pivotally hinged to the pin 8 between the bifurcated portions I8 and I9. Each presser member I4 and I5 may be provided with a depressed portion, such as the portions I4 and I5 adapted to contact with film being spliced. Fixed registry pins are carried by the table, these pins preferably extending in longitudinal alignment on the table. Such fixed pins are indicated at 2!], 2|, 22 and 23. The pins 20 and 21 are spaced apart a distance permitting them to pass through perforations in either 8 millimeter or 16 millimeter film. Ordinarily the perforations in 16 millimeter film are separated a distance which is twice as great as the distance separating perforations in 8' millimeter film.

In alignment with the fixed registry pins to 23 inclusive the device is provided with tensioning registry pins, such as, for example, the pins 25 and 26 extending through slots formed in the table portion l of the device. These registry pins are shown in greater detail in Fig. 2 and comprise the free ends of spring members 21 and 28 carried by the under side of the table I. These tensioning pins 25 and 26 and the springs 21 and 28 are so arranged as to exert a pull away from the slot 1 and the fixed registry pins adjacent said slot, thereby positively holding the film in proper relation during splicing and cutting. Attention is called to the fact that a portion at least of the fixed registry pins should be located adjacent the transverse slot 1 and beneath the presser members l4 and [5. The depressed portions l4 and I5 of these members are shown provided with apertures through which the upper ends of the fixed registry pins may project.

In addition to the fixed registry pins specifically mentioned, additional registry pins, such as the pins 30 and 3|, may be provided, these pins being capable of engaging certain of the perforations of 16 millimeter film. 8 millimeter film is only perforated along one edge and therefore will engage only the fixed registry pins 20 to 23 inclusive. It has been found that these fixed registry pins may take the form of prongs carried by clips 20 and 22, the prongs or pins ex-' tending through suitable perforations in the table I whereas the body portions of 20 and 22 are spot-welded or riveted to the table portion.

The complete device is also provided with'a pair of wells, one of the wells being adapted to receive and removably hold a bottle of film cement, indicated at 33, whereas the other well is adapted to receive a scraping tool 34. The scraping tool 34, shown in greater detail in Fig. 4, may be simply a block of metal provided with knurled or file-like edge portions 35. The wells formed in the table I for the reception of the film cement container and the scraping tool may include spring clips 36 (Fig. 3), one end of such clip being attached to the bottom of the table portion I, such clip being generally in the form of a U, the bottom of the U acting as a bottom for the well, one end of the U being attached to the table portion l as aforesaid, the other end of the U acting as the side of the well and frictionally retaining the container or tool when it is introduced into the well.

In use, when itis desired to cut and splice a film, the presser members and the cutter bar are raised and thrown back off the table.

20 and 2| and the tensioning registry pin 25.

The presser member I4 isthen pressed down and latched in position so as to firmly retain the film upon the table. The cutter bar 12 is then actuated and the film iscut or sheared off by the co-action of the edges of the cutter bar 12 with the edges of the slot 1. The bent portion l2 of the cutter bar enters the slot 1 first and thus guides the cutter bar into perfect alignment during cutting. The cutter bar is then left in its depressed position as shown in Fig. 3. The emulsion on the surface of the film so cut and extending beyond the edge of the presser member I4 is then removed by means of the scraping tool by actuating said scraping tool along the edge of the presser member M which faces Thefilm is then threaded onto the fixed registry pins the slot 1. The end of the other strip of film may be treated in exactly the same way and the two ends are then caused to overlap, the other piece of film being placed upon the registry pins 22, 23 and tensiom'ng pin 26. The amount of overlap so obtained will be equivalent to the space between the edge of presser member I4 and the edge of the slot 1. Preferably the registry pins 20, 2!, 22 and 23 are so positioned that a film perforation would ordinarily exist in that portion of the film which can be scraped as described herein. A small amount of film cement is then applied to the overlapping ends of the two strips of film and these overlapping edges pressed together by means of the presser members l4 and IS. The cementing material is a form of film solvent which causes the two ends to be firmly blended and cemented together.

Since the various registry pins 20 to 23 and 25 and 26 are in alignment and properly spaced with one another, the operator is assured that the resulting splice is properly made, both as to maintenance of the film strips in absolute alignment and as to proper sprocket hole relationship.

From the description given it will be evident that a simple, inexpensive, readily constructed and operated form of splicer has been provided. It is to be understood that the specific form of device which has been described is exemplary only and all changes coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

I claim:

1. In a film splicer, the combination of a table having a film cutting slot therein, a hing pin carried by the table transversely relative to the slot, a cutter bar pivotally mounted by the hinge pin and having an angulated section adapted to pass through the slot to cut film positioned thereover, a pressure bar having a bifurcated hinge portion mounted on the hinge pin with the bifurcations positioned on opposite sides of the cutter bar, and a second pressure bar mounted on the hinge pin adjacent the first said pressure bar whereby the said second pressure bar is positioned relative to said slot so that its edge defines the splicing margin at one side of the slot.

2. A film splicer, comprising a table having a film cutting slot therein and having film registry pins for positioning a film with reference to the slot, a hinge pin carried by the table and extending transversely to the direction of the slot, a cutter bar carried by the hinge pin and having an angulated cutting section, a pressure bar having a bifurcated hinge section pivotally mounted on the hinge pin on opposed sides of the cutter bar mounting and adapted to be swung downwardly over the slot to maintain a holding pressure on the film on opposite sides of the slot, and a second pressure bar pivotally mounted on the hinge in definite spaced relation to the edge of the cutting slot whereby to determine a splic ing margin at the edge of the slot, and the said cutting knife and first and second pressure bars being mounted on the hinge pin in such manner as to definitely fix the position of each of said elements relative to said cutting slot.

3. A film splicer, comprising a table having a bar mounting and adapted to be swung downwardly over the slot to maintain a holding pressure on the film on opposite sides of the slot, and a second pressure bar pivotally mounted on the hinge in definite spaced relation to the edge of the cutting slot whereby to determine a splicing margin at the edge of the slot, the said cutting knife and first and second pressure bars being mounted on the hinge pin in such manner as to definitely fix the position of each of said elements relative to said cutting slot, each of said pressure bars having offset pressure sections, and latch means interposed between the table and said pressure bars whereby the pressure bars may be latched to the table to maintain pressure between the offset pressure sections thereof and the film positioned by said registry pins on said table.

ARTHUR E. GAVIN. 

